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This paper proposes an improved SOC balancing strategy for the modular energy storage system (ESS) based on low bandwidth communication (LBC) technology, aiming at solving the drawbacks of the conventional balancing strategy based on droop control. The proposed control scheme can improve the SOC balancing efficiency and remove the current deviation by using the SOC slope-adjusting and current-shifting approaches simultaneously. The average value of SOC can be derived through the LBC line, and the droop coefficient based on SOC can be controlled in the local control layer. Thus, the SOC of each sub-module can converge to the average SOC value in system dynamic process, and the balancing speed under the condition of low SOC difference between sub-modules can be improved. Furthermore, the current regulation performance in steady and transient states can be enhanced by using the proposed method. At last the effectiveness of the proposed strategy is verified by experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an active state-of-charge (SOC) balancing control strategy for modular super capacitor energy storage system (ESS). The strategy has a master–slave structure, including a common dc bus voltage loop and individual slave current loop for each submodule. The common voltage loop ensures the ability of the system to stabilize dc bus voltage cannot be affected by SOC balancing control, and provides a same original current reference for all submodules. SOC information is introduced into current loops to achieve SOC balancing control. The highest SOC is taken as a reference for low SOC modules, thus, the low SOC modules can regulate the submodule average operation current according to the SOC reference and their own SOC. In order to minimize system current deviation caused by the introduction of SOC, a current correction method is proposed to improve system current regulate performance. The proposed strategy can achieve SOC balancing control during ESS charging and discharging process dynamically, in addition, the modularity of the system is improved and the proposed strategy has favorable stability. A modular ESS prototype consisting of three half-bridge submodules is tested in the laboratory, and the experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter presents a fast open circuit diagnostic method for modular multilevel DC/DC converter (MMDDC), which is applied in super capacitor energy storage system. The proposed method is derived based on the analysis of submodule output characteristics under both normal and fault conditions. For MMDDC, different types of open circuit fault are reflected by the output voltage of submodule in certain operating modes, thus a simple and effective diagnostic method by the aid of a hardware circuit and a fast fault location algorithm is proposed. The hardware circuit is responsible for detecting submodule output voltage and its output result is transmitted to a processor to accomplish the final fault diagnosis along with drive signals. The proposed approach avoids complex mathematical operations and minimizes fault diagnostic time; moreover, it can achieve fault diagnosis under a wide super capacitor operating voltage range. Finally, the proposed diagnostic method is verified experimentally based on a laboratory-scale MMDDC energy storage prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The proposed converter solves the over- current issue of MMDDC in charge mode. • The boost function of impedance source helps to reduce the number of sub-modules. • The reduction of sub-modules can reduce the total voltage on energy storage side. • The working current on energy storage side is continuous. • Shoot through operation can increase the sub-module control degree. This paper proposes a novel impedance source modular DC/DC converter for the energy storage system (ESS), which overcomes the drawbacks of traditional modular multilevel DC/DC converter (MMDDC), such as discontinuous current on energy storage side, easy over-current in charge mode, large number of sub-modules etc. A new quasi-Z source (qZS) sub-module is constructed by combining bi-directional quasi Z source and half bridge converter. The bi-directional qZS can make the input voltage of half bridge sub-module controllable, and then solve the over-current issue of the traditional MMDDC in charge mode. Meanwhile, the boosting function of the impedance source can help to reduce the number of sub-modules when the system is applied to the medium and high voltage occasions, simplifying the system structure and improving system efficiency. More importantly, the bi-directional qZS can make the current on energy storage side continuous, improving the lifetime of energy storage device. Detailed analysis about the operation principle and characteristics of the proposed converter are presented in the paper, and the study of control strategy design for the proposed converter is also carried out. At last, the effectiveness of the proposed converter and control strategy is verified by experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]